When we were approached last month to premiere Reflections‘ brand new song “Actias Luna,” we jumped at the chance: The Minnesota band is one of the most interesting in modern metalcore, and their new direction evident on their upcoming album The Color Clear is certainly worth paying attention to. The thing is, we had no idea just how many of you would be paying attention—our premiere of “Actias Luna” has become the biggest premiere in Substream’s history and the eighth largest story we’ve posted overall. Clearly, Reflections is onto something. So we begged and pleaded for more new music, and the band has obliged, with a lyric video for new single “Shadow Self.” Instead of trying to mince his words, we’ll let frontman Jake Wolf explain exactly what the song is about:

“This track comes from a very dark place. It is about how I let the people I once held close change me and drive me into a place mentally where I developed a second personality. For years, I could not look myself in the mirror. I hated who I was. I had no idea what I believed in, what or who I cared about and I especially had no clue who cared about me. It wasn’t until the process of writing and making The Color Clear that I was able to find myself again. A person that disappeared through years of physical, mental and emotional abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, more traumatizing events than I care to remember, and years of self-harm.

It’s truly a sad and difficult feeling to look back at literally your entire life and resenting everything. But now, when I see myself, I no longer see the product of all of the things I wish I could forget. I see my core, I see what is left of me throughout all of these years of trying to erase every memory from my childhood and teenage years. Unfortunately, I’ve realized you can’t forget the things that make you who you are. It’s almost like the person I was follows me every step I take. Just like a shadow.”

Reflections’ The Color Clear will be released by Good Fight/eOne Music on September 18 and can be pre-ordered here or on iTunes.

Reflections will hit the road in support of The Color Clear starting tomorrow alongside Toothgrinder, Yüth Forever and Exalt:

Scott Heisel is a writer and editor for hire. He has been writing professionally since 1997, with thousands of bylines in numerous national publications, including Alternative Press, where he was a member of their in-house editorial staff for 10 years.

Substream Magazine is a forward thinking lifestyle and media outlet that focuses on discovering and sharing the best in new music, film, pop culture, and entertainment. Since 2007, Substream has helped break artists and launch cutting edge content
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